Pipe-coupling.



C. A. IUHNSUN.

PIPE COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED nic. I2. 1913.

l l 96,?85 Patented Sept. l5, 1916,

2 SHEETS-*SHEET 2.

` llllllm JOL/nsom Tun sTATEs PATENT crimen.

CLEMENT A. JOHNSON, 0F CADIZ, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO E. T.JONES, OF

' ST. CLAIRSVILLE, OHIO.

PIPE-COUPLING.

Application filed December 12, 1913.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, CLEMENT A. JOHNSON,

citizen of the United States, residing at Cadiz, in the county ofHarrison and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Pipe-Couplings, of which the following is aspecification.

The subject-matter of the present invention is directed to new anduseful improvements in pipe couplings, and has particular reference tothat type of such devices as are employed in connecting the meetingterminals of gas mains or the like.

It is a well known fact that one of the principal difficultiesencountered in connecting gas pipes or gas mains is to prevent thebuckling of the connected terminals when a high pressure is maintainedin the pipes or mains.

As its primary object, therefore, the present invention aims to preventthe pipes or main section from buckling by providing a novel form ofcoupling in which each member of the coupling is adjustably but securelyfixed in its relation to the pipe section to which it is applied, and toequip the coupling sections with connecting devices -which hold them inthe desired relation to each other, and also serve to maintain asuitable gasket in place.

A further object is to simplify the construction of the coupling to suchan extent that it may be cheaply manufactured, and may be readily andquickly applied to the meeting terminals of the pipes whether they arebeing laid or have already been laid, and are to be equipped with thecoupling of this invent-ion.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as areillustrated in the accompanying drawings, described in the followingspecification, and then more particularly pointed out in the claimswhich are appended hereto and form a part of this application. p

With reference to the drawings, wherein there has been illustrated thepreferred embodiment of this invention as it is reduced to practice, andthroughout the several views of which similar reference numeralsdesignate corresponding parts, Figure 1 is a perspective viewillustrating the preferred form of coupling in assembled position at themeeting terminals of two pipe sections; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectiontaken medi- Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1916.

Serial No. 806,258.

ally through the coupling as shown in Fig. 1; 1g. 3 is a detailperspective view illustratlng the preferred form of gasket employed whenthe form of coupling illustrated in Figs. l and 2 is utilized; Fig. 4Lis a perspective View illustrating a modification of the couplingshowing the coupling rings as formed in two semi-circular sections; Fig.5 1s a perspective view illustrating the two sections of the ring shownin Fig. 4 in disassembled relation; Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspectiveview illustrating a modified form of gasket; and Fig. 7 is a sectionshowing the holding ring by which this modified form of gasket is heldin proper position. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view, showing thegasket and holding ring of Fig. 7 in position at the junction ofadjacent pipe sections.

As previo-usly 4set forth, the preferred form of the coupling of thisinvention is best illustrated in Fig. 1, and reference will now,therefore, be had to this gure particularly. The form of coupling shownin Fig. 1 consists essentially in a pair of locking rings 10 and l1,between which are interposed a coupling collar 12 and a pair of gaskets18 and 14. Bolts or rods 15 bear against the gaskets 13 and 14 and areemployed in holding the locking rings 10 and 11 in the proper connectedrelation in a manner which will be hereinafter fully disclosed.

The locking rings 10 and 11 which are, as shown in both Figs. 1 and 2,designed for application to the meeting terminals of pipe sections,indicated at 16 and 17 are annular in shape and are preferablyconstructed of tempered steel, although, if so desired, a cheaper gradeof material may be employed. Inasmuch as the two locking rings 10 and 11are vsubstantially identical in co-nstruction, it' is deemed necessaryto describe only one of them in detail, the member 10 being chosen inthis instance.

As previously set forth, each locking ring is intended to be securelyclamped in proper position on the pipe section, and the member 10 is,therefore, for this purpose equipped with a number of lugs 18. Each lug18 is substantially rectangular and is formed with an approximatelycentrally disposed threaded bore which receives a set-screw, which maybe of the type indicated at 19, or any other form of fastening deviceswhich may be efficient. These lug members 18 are in the preferredembodiment of the invention formed integrally with the locking rings, j

although, obviously if so desired, they may be cast separately andriveted or otherwis secured without departing from the spiri of thisinvention.

1t will be noted that the inner faces o the lugs are arranged in spacedrelation t the inner edges of the ring. By this con struction, fillingblocks or rings may, if de sired, be interposed between the said lug andthe pipe sections to be engaged by th set screws 19 for effectivelygripping th pipe sections.

lfn practice, it has been found preferabl to employ four of these lugmembers 18 spacing them quadrantly on the member 10 but it is obviousthat the number of lug employed is a purely arbitrary matter, andi oneto be governed by the conditions concur rent with the adoption of thecoupling. In

this connection, it will be apparent that ifif:

line which has already been laid. There has,

the coupling is to be applied to a relatively large main, it will benecessary to employ more than four of the lugs, since the pres.l

sure exerted at the meeting terminals of the main pipe sections couldnot be withstood by 'so small a number of fastening devices. The lugs 18project laterally from the rings anc are, of course, arcuate to conformto the outer face of the pipe sections.

The form of locking ring illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is employed whenthe pipe line is being laid, it being apparent that if the line hasalready been laid, it would be impossible to apply solid annular ring.Under such conditions the form of coupling illustrated in Figs. l and 5is employed, as will be describe-d in detail hereinafter.

lin applying the coupling, the meeting terminals of the members 1G and17 are first inserted in the coupling collar 12. After the couplingcollar has been properly positioned, the gaskets 13 and 1d areinterposed between the terminals of the collar and the members 10 and11. Referring now to Fig. 8, it will be noted that the preferred form ofgasket, which is annular in shape, is formed at one edge with a V-shaped notch, the two walls of the notch being designated by thenumerals 28 and 24. ln applying the gasket, the wall 241 which is ofgreater length than the wall 28 and is inclined at a less angle to theinner wall 25 of the gasket, is inserted between the pipe section andthe terminal of the collar 12. As indicated at 26, each terminal of thecollar 12 is flared, producing an annular lip which projects into the Vshaped notch 22.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that by inserting the bolts 15through the apertures which are formed in the rings 10 and 11, andapplying the nuts 27, the gaskets 13 and 14 will be urged toward eachother to securely wedge the portions, defined by the wall 211 and thewall 25, into engagement with the terminal lips of the collar 12 and thepipes 16 and 17, the bolts or rods 15, by engagement with the gaskets,serving to hold said gaskets inposition. After the nuts 27 have beenthreaded on the bolts 15 until the gaskets have been brought into thedesired enga gement with the pipes and collar so that an air tight jointhas been effected, the setscrews 19 are threaded through the lugs 18until the terminals of the set-screws bite into ythe pipe. 1t will beapparent that when the set-screws have been thus threaded home, therings 10 and 11 will be held against both vrotation and longitudinalmovement on the pipe sections, and that all possibility of dis-Iconnection between the members 16 and 17, lsuch as might occur fromexcessive pressure 4and consequent buckling, will be eliminated.

As previously set forth, it will be impossible to apply the coupling ofthe preferred form illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, to a pipe therefore,been provided a modified form of coupling which may be readilypositioned on the meeting terminals of pipes which have already beenassembled. This modified form is illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, andreference will, therefore, be now had particularly te these figures.

As will be noted upon reference to the drawings, the modified form oflocking rings differs from the preferred form only in that they eachconsist in two semi-circular secn tions which are individuallydesignated in Fig. o by the numerals 27 and 28. The one section 27 iscut-away from the inner fac-e of its terminals, producing 'the radialshoulders 29 and 30 and the lugs 31 and 82. rEhesc rugs 31 and 32 arcapertured as at and 33 and are designed to register with the openings orapertures 8G and 37 of the lugs 38 and 39, respectively. rFliese membersi8 and are formed by cutting away the terminals of the section 28 fromtheir outer faces. Radial shoulders d0 and ll1 are formed, in connectionwith the members 88 and 39. Un each of the sections 27 and 28 is carrieda pair of integrally formed lugs or projections Lf2 and 113 whichcorrespond to the members 18.

Referring now to Fig. il, it will be seen that the two sections 27 and28 of each of the locking rings of the modified form are held inassembled relation to each other by inserting the connecting bolts 14through the registering apertures 35 and 87 and and 3G. llt will also beobserved that when the two sections are connected, the terminals 8 and82 will abut the radial shoulders 40 and hi1, while the members 88 and39 abut the radial shoulders 29 and 30. When this modified form ofcoupling of Fig. 5 is applied tothe meeting terminals of pipe sectionswhich are already connected by some other well known form of coupling,it has been found eX- pedient to let the old coupling remain inposition, and to dispose the device of Fig. 5 so that the locking ringswill engage the opposite ends of the old coupling, as in Fig. 4:. Whenthe rings have been applied and properly secured, they, of course,strengthen the joint and prevent the buckling of the pipe sections whena heavy pressure is maintained in the pipe line.

It has been found desirable in some instances to employ a. modified formof gasket such is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. This modified form ofgasket is, of course, annular in shape, being formed of rubber or anyother suitable material. This modified form of gasket is equipped at itsouter edge with a tl-shaped notch, as indicated at 48, while its forwardedge is formed in the nature of an annular wedge, as indicated at 49. Anannular shoulder 50 defines the base portion of the wedge and is adaptedto limit the inward movement of the wedge portion 49 into the collar 45by engagement with the terminal of the collar. When this modified formof gasket is used, a holding ring 51 is employed. This ring isinterposed between the gasket and the locking ring, and is equipped witha cross sectionally V-shaped annular rib 52 which is insertible in theil-shaped groove 48 and obviously acts to hold the gasket in the properposition. Relative to the action of the rib 52 it will be noted that itwill firmly bind the rear portion of the gasket against the pipesection, since the inclined lower face of the rib will slide along thecorresponding inclined inner face of the notch 48.

It will be, of course, understood that it is entirely within the scopeof this invention to eliminate the holding ring 51 and form the annularrib 52 directly on the locking rings of either the preferred or modifiedforms. In this connection, it may be eX- plained that if the modifiedform of gasket is found to be more efficient than the preferred form, asit doubtlessly will in some instances, the ribs 52 may be madeintegrally with the locking rings to save expense in manufacture. Itwill be obvious, however, that when the modified form of gasket is to beused only occasionally, it will be necessary to supply the separateholding ring 51 as above set forth.

In reduction to practice, it has been found that the form of thisinvention illustrated in the drawings, and referred to in the abovedescription as the preferred embodiment, is the most eflicient andpractical; yet realizing that the conditions concurrent with theadoption of this device will necessarily vary, it is desired toemphasize the fact that various minor changes in details ofconstruction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to,when required, without sacrificing any'of the advantages of thisinvention, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is l. In a pipe coupling, a solid imperforate couplingcollar having its inner wall smooth and unobstructed and its oppositeends bent laterally to form outwardly projecting terminal lips, gasketsadapted for disposal one at each end of the collar and each providedwith an annular wedge for engagement between the terminal lip of thecollar and the exterior surface of one of the pipes to be coupled,holding rings having their outer faces provided with smooth bearingsurfaces and their inner faces formed with V-shaped ribs, each of thegaskets being provided with an annular V-shaped recess adapted toreceive the rib on the adjacent holding ring, locking rings adapted fordisposal against the smooth bearing surfaces of the holding rings, andmeans piercing the locking rings and holding rings for adjustablyconnecting the parts.

2. In a pipe coupling, a solid coupling collar having its outer wallsmooth and unobstructed and its inner wall bent laterally to formoutwardly projecting terminal lips entirely surrounding the collar,gaskets adapted for disposal one at each end of the collar and eachhaving one end thereof provided with an annular wedge for engagementbetween the adjacent terminal lip of the collar and the exterior surfaceof one of the pipes to be coupled and at its other end formed with anannular V-shaped recess, holding rings adapted for disposal one againsteach of the gaskets, each of the rings being provided near its innerperiphery with an annular V-shaped rib fitted in the V- shaped recess ofthe respective gasket, each of the said holding rings having its outerperiphery located outwardly beyond the outer wall of the respectivegasket, locking rings adapted for disposal one against-each of theholding rings, each of the locking rings comprising arcuate sectionsadapted to be assembled with their ends overlapped, and clamping boltsfitting through the overlapped ends of the locking rings and through theholding rings and adjustable to draw the several parts together.

3. In a pipe coupling, a solid imperforate coupling collar having itsinner wall smooth and unobstructed and its opposite ends flaredlaterally to form outwardly projecting annular lips, gaskets havingprojections insertible between the annular lips and the outer surfacesof the pipes to be coupled, locking rings mounted upon the pipes at saidgaskets and having their inner opposed side faces smooth andunobstructed and their outer side faces cut away at predetermined pointsto form intermediate laterally extending lugs, clamping bolts piercingthe looking rings at the eut-away portions thereof and bearing againstthe gaskets for draW- ing said locking rings together and oompressingthe gaskets, and clamping screws threaded in openings in the lugs on thelocking ring and having their inner ends bearing against the adjacentpipe and their outer ends projected beyond the outer periphery of thelooking rings and provided l0 With means for engagement with anoperating tool.

1n testimony whereof l aiiX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CLEMENT A. JOHNSON. [Ls] Witnesses:

FINLEY B. NASH, KINSEY E. TOoLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

